Portable winch

ABSTRACT

A portable hand-operated ratchet-type winch including a feed pawl and a stop pawl, the feed pawl being selectively set for rotation of the drum in a forward or reverse direction. A cam is provided which assists in engaging the feed pawl to cause it to act as a stop pawl with the ratchet in a reversing direction and then to disengage the stop pawl to permit the reversing movement of the drum under control of the feed pawl. The cam is adjustable to selectively provide for a minimum reversing movement or a maximum reversing movement.

O Unlted States Patent 11 1 [111 3,868,091

Hoffman Feb. 25, 1975 PORTABLE WINCH Primary Examiner--Robert J. Spar Assistant Examiner-Kenneth Noland z B. 21 l d [76] inventor gzf ggfr gg gig 3 an Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Mahoney, Miller & Stebens PP Flo-14565022 A portable hand-operated ratchet-type winch including a feed pawl-and a stop pawl, the feed pawl being 52 us. 01. 254/164, 74/142 Selectively set for rotation of the drum in a forward or 51 Int. Cl A63b 61/04 reverse direction A cam is P d which assists 581 Field 6: Search 254/167, 164, 186, 154; engaging the feed pawl to cause act as a p p 74/142 155 with the ratchet in a reversing direction and then to disengage the stop pawl to permit the reversing move- [56] References cited ment of the drum under control of the feed pawl. The UNITED STATES PATENTS cam is adjustable to selectively provide for a minimum 2927 77 3/1960 Cl k 254/")? reversing movement or a maximum reversing movear 3,524,626 8/1970 Pomagalski et al 254/167 ment 7 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures NTED FEBZ 51975 sum 1 5 PATENTED FEB 2 51975 sum 2 9 5 PORTABLE WINCH BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION My invention relates to a portable winch. It has to do, more specifically, with a portable hand-operated reversible winch or Windlass. The type of portable winch to which my invention is applicable is commonly known commercially as a power puller and hoist.

Winches of this type basically include a rotatable cable spool or drum which is rotated in a cable winding direction by means of an oscillatory lever through the medium of pawl and ratchet mechanism associated with the lever and drum. Reversing mechanism is associated with the ratchet mechanism to provide for adjustment of such mechanism to permit reverse rotation of the drum in a cable unwinding direction.

According to the invention disclosed in my US. Pat. No. 2,890,857, of June 16, 1959, I provided a winch which included a rotatable drum having pawl and ratchet mechanism which was actuated by oscillation of an associated lever or handle to rotate the drum. The pawl and ratchet mechanism included a feed pawl and a stop pawl. A simple spring arrangement was provided for setting the feed pawl for rotation of the drum in a forward or cable winding direction or in a reverse or cable unwinding direction. To cause the feed pawl to function in a forward or a reverse direction a single simple cam was associated with the drum. This single cam not only functioned to assist in engaging the feed pawl to cause it to act as a stop pawl with the ratchet in a reversing direction but also served immediately thereafter to disengage the stop pawl to permit the reversing movement of the ratchet and drum under con trol of the feed pawl. That cam in no way restricted oscillation of the lever and did not need to bear the load on the lever and drum during either the forward or reverse operation of the drum and. therefore, would not become distorted.

The reversing cam disclosed in said patent was designed to permit reversing movement of the ratches and drum. under control of the feed pawl, in movements of one tooth of the ratchet wheel. In some instances, it is desirable to provide for a faster reversing action.

The present invention provides a winch of the general type disclosed in my prior patent but which is provided with an improved reversing cam which is selectively adjustable to provide a reversing action of the ratchet wheel in increments either corresponding to one tooth of the ratchet wheel or two or more teeth of the ratchet wheel. Thus, the cam will be adjustable to provide for a slow reversal or a more rapid reversal as determined by the load on the winch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The best mode contemplated in carrying out this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken through the winch, showing the feed pawl and reversing cam in drum-reversing positions.

FIG. la is a partial sectional view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the feed pawl and reversing cam in drumadvancing positions.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the reversing cam removed from the winch.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a partial end elevational view of the winch.

FIG. 5 is a plan view, partly cut away, of the winch.

FIG. 6 is a partial section similar to FIG. I showing the action of the reversing cam and feed pawl when the reversing cam is set to permit maximum reversing. the feed pawl acting as a stop pawl in this condition.

FIG. 6a is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the feed pawl in the position it occupies after maximum reversing.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the reversing cam set to permit minimum reversing.

FIG. 7a is a view similar to FIG. 6a with the reversing cam set to permit minimum reversing.

With reference to the drawings, I have illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5 the general structure of the winch or power puller and hoist in which my invention is embodied.

This winch includes a frame 10 of elongated form which is of substantially rectangular outline but has the converging ends 11 and 12. The end 12 is provided with an anchoring hook 13 for anchoring the frame to a suitable support whereas the end 11 is provided with a depending cable guide 14 through which the cable 15, which is to be wound on the winch, is passed. This cable may be part of a block and tackle arrangement for pulling or raising a suitable load. It is to be understood that although I refer to a cable, my winch is applicable to pulling on a rope or even a chain or other flexible member which can be wound on the drum of the winch.

Transversely disposed within the frame 10 and mounted for rotation on the frame is the spool or drum 16. Thd drum I6 is provided with trunnions 17 which are rotatably disposed in bearing openings in the sides of the frame 10. Directed chordally (FIG. 5) through the drum 16 is a socket 18 for receiving the end of the cable. This end of the cable is anchored in the socket by means of a pointed anchoring plug 19.

Above the bearing openings for the drum trunnions 17, the frame 10 is provided with the upstanding yoke bearings 25. These bearings receive the pivots 26 which are provided for the yoke 27. The yoke 27 straddles the frame 10 with its lower ends disposed outside the adjacent bearings 25. The yoke 27 is provided with a socket 28 for receiving the lower end of a handle or lever.

It will be noted best from FIGS. 1 and la that the yoke pivot points 26, which are the fulcrum for the yoke 27, are disposed eccentrically relative to the axis of trunnions 17 of the drum I6.

On each end, the drum is provided with an integral ratchet wheel 31. For cooperating with this ratchet wheel, the yoke 27 carries the feed pawl 32. This feed pawl is a double pawl so that it will cooperate with both ratchet wheels 31 and includes a central transverse sleeve 33 (FIG. 4) through which is passed a pivot pin 34 that extends through openings formed in the sides of the yoke 27. One arm of the pawl is provided with a narrow tooth 35 for engaging the teeth of the associated ratchet wheel 31 and the other arm is provided with a wide tooth 36 which engages the teeth of the associated ratchet wheel 31 butwhich also extends outwardly therebeyond to provide a cam-engaging extension 37.

In order to set the feed pawl 32 in either of two positions, an off-center spring, arrangement is provided as wheels 31 for rotationof the drum ina forward or cable side the yoke for pivotal movementin a plane at right angles to the plane of bend of the spring. The free end 42 of the spring is disposed between a pair of lugs 43 and 44 which project radially from the pawl 32, the pawl being providedwith a cam surface 45 of arcuate form between the lugs and with which the spring end 42 resiliently engages.

When the spring 40 is swung to the off-center position shown inFIG. 1a, the end 42 thereof engages the lug .44 of the pawl and springsthe pawl clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 3, to cause the pawl to engage the teeth of the ratchets 31 so that when the yoke is swung towards the right, the drum I6 is rotated in a cablewinging direction. On the other hand,when the offcenter spring 40is swung in theopposite direction to engage the lug 43 of the pawl, as shown in FIG. 1, the

pawl is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in this FIG. until the lug 43 strikes a stop pin 46 which'is provided on the adjacent side of the yoke 27. This will swing the pawl teeth 35 and 36 away from the teethof the ratchet wheels 31 to permit the yoke 27 to swing to, the right, as viewed in FIG. 1, without having the pawl teeth 35 and 36 engage the ratchet wheels 31 until towards the end of the stroke, when the reversing cam 50 functions in a manner to be explained-later;

In addition to the feed pawl 32,] have provided the stop pawl 51 which normally prevents reversingmovement ofthe ratchet wheels 31, as indicated in FIG. 1a..

This pawl 51, comprises a tubular or sleeve section 52 through which a pivot pin 53 passesaThe end of this pin 53 is disposed in upstanding bearings 54 provided on into contact with the trunnion bearing 17a on the corresponding end of the drum 16 as shown in FIGS. 1 and la, by means of a tension spring 63 which is connected to the lower end of the cam plate at 64 and which is anchored to the side of the frame '10 at the pin 58.

The cam plate 50 is of the particular shape shown in FIG. 2, being mainly of triangularrform. It is provided with an upwardly extending cam lug 66 at one extreme, to the right of FIG. 2, which will act to release the stop pawl 51 from the ratchet wheels 31. It is further provided with an upstanding cam lug 67 at its other extrcme, to the left, which willfunction'to return the cam to a position to permit reengagement of the stop pawl 51, as will be explained in detail later. The lug 66 is provided with an outer notch 69. Inbetweenthe lugs 66 and 67 is a notch which has an inner angular edge 75.

Pivoted to the cam plate 50 for vertical swinging movement is an auxiliary cam member 70. The pivoting is by I meansof a tongue portion 71 which is gripped between asurface of the plate 50 and a washer 72, held in clampedrelationship by means of a rivet 73, as shown in FIG. 3. Engaging surfaces of plate 50, tongue 71 and; rivet 73 maybe knurled or roughened, as indicated schematically at 74,to increase frictional contactto aid in holding member 70 in selectively adjusted position.

The member70 is provided with a lateral flange 70a having a narrowed shoulder 70b at its inner extremity. When the member 70 is swung upwardly, the shoulder 70b will contact the edge 75 of plate 50 (FIGJZ) and will accurately locate the member'lO in an upstanding position whereits. upstanding lug edge 670 will be'subthe sides of the frame 10 in longitudinally spaced relationship to the upstanding yoke bearings 25. This pawl SI is double pawl and is providedwith teeth 55 and 56 on its arms for cooperating with the teeth of the ratchet wheels 31 so as normally to prevent reverse movement of the drum. A torsion spring 57 is anchored to the frame at 58and surrounds the sleeve 52 of the pawl to which it is anchored so as to serve to normally swing the pawl towards the ratchet wheels 31 to engage the pawl teeth 55 and 56 with the ratchet teeth to prevent reverse rotation of the drum. The pawl sleeve 52 is provided with a radially extending handle 520 by means of a which the stop pawl may be manually disengaged from the ratchet wheels 31 by overcoming the force exerted by the spring 57. Associated with the pawl tooth 56 is an. outwardly projecting cam-engaging lug 59, indicated in FIGS. 1 and la.

it will be noted best from FIGS. 1 and la that the yoke 27 carries a stop lug 60 at each side thereof which will engage with a stop edge 61 formed on the upstanding pawl bearing 54at the corresponding side of the frame 10. These stops will provide apositive means for limiting the swinging of the yoke 27 clockwise, as viewed in FIG. la, which is the direction in which it is swung during the forward advancing of the drum 16 to wind the cable. 7 V

The reversing cam 50, previously referred to, is part of a simple cam plate assembly which is mounted at one side of the frame 10 between one of the yoke bearings 25 and the adjacent end of the drum 16. The cam plate 50 is pivotedtat 62 to the frame and is normally swung stantially parallel to the upstanding lug' 67,-this being the operative position of the member 70. However, member 70 can be swung downwardly to an inoperative position'where flange 70a will. be flat on the edge 75 of the cam plate 50.

In the operation of the. winch, assumingthe cam member 70 is swung inwardly'into inoperative position,

as shown in FIGS. 1 and 1a, maximum reversing will result when the reversing cam functions. I-Iowever,-if the 7 spring is set as shown in FIG. la, the reversing cam 50 will not function.

With the spring40 so set, the teeth35 and 36 of. the feed pawl 32 will be held'in resilient contact with the I teeth of the ratchet wheels 31. Consequently, as yoke 27 is swung in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1a, the drum 16 will be rotated in a cable-winding or forward direction. The yoke 27 will swing in the for-. ward direction until the stops 60 thereon contact the stops 61 on the frame 10. During this swinging action,

the adjacent tooth 36 and cam-engaging extension .37 thereof, provided on the feed pawl 32, will miss the upstanding cam lug 67 on the reversing cam 50. However, the extension 37 will eventually engage the cam lug 66 and rotate the cam 50 clockwise slightlyand the notch 69 of the cam lug 66 will engage the pawl lug 59 on the stoppawl 51, so as to release the stop pawl from the ratchet wheels 31, but the feed pawl 32 will be in en gagement with the ratchetwheels 31 at this time. This a motion of the cam at this time is a lost motion as it performsno desired function during the pulling stroke of the yoke27. However, thislost motion will not occur,

as the operator becomes experienced with operation of V the machine and stops swinging the yoke 27 short of I the pointwhere the feed pawl 32 contacts the cam 50.

' Shortly afterrotation of the cam 50, the stops 60 and 61 engage with each other to limit movement of the lever 29. It will be noted that during this pulling movement of lever 29, the pawl extension 37 will miss the stop 61 at the corresponding side. Reverse swinging movement of the yoke 27 will cause the extension 37 to engage the cam lug 67 and return the cam to its original position. Thus, unrestricted movement of the yoke 27, during the pulling action, will be permitted by the reversing cam 50 and oscillators of these members will move the drum 16 in a forward pulling or cablewinding direction.

To reverse the rotation of the drum 16, it is merely necessary to reset the spring 40. The spring is moved to the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 6. This will throw the teeth of the feed pawl 32 outwardly away from the teeth of the ratchet wheels 31. Consequently, when the yoke 27 is swung clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 1, the feed pawl will not engage the ratchet wheels 31. At this time, the stop pawl 51 is still in engagement with the ratchet wheels 31 to prevent reverse rotation of the drum 16, it being understood that there is a load on the cable which has been wound on the drum. The feed pawl 32 will not engage the ratchet wheels 31 again until the tooth extension 37 of the pawl engages the inclined stop surface 61 at the same side which will force it inwardly over the edge of the cam lug 66 with which it will engage. Due to the outward position of the pawl 32, the extension 37 will first engage the cam lug 66 adjacent its outer end and will therefore rotate it about its pivot 62, and as the yoke 27 continues to swing, the extension 37 will follow the edge of the lug 66 inwardly causing the teeth of the feed pawl to engage with the ratchet wheels 31. The edge of the cam lug 66 assists in causing the teeth of the feed pawl 32 to engage with the ratchet wheels 31, but basically the inclined stop surface 61 of the frame and the adjacent vertical edge of the corresponding bearing 54 of the frame would guide the extension 37 and force the teeth of the feed pawl to engage the ratchet wheels 31 at the desired point even if the cam were not there. After the teeth of the feed pawl 32 engage the ratchet wheels 31 and cause the feed pawl to pick up the load, the cam 50 will continue to rotate until its lug 66 engages the stop pawl lug 59 and swings the stop pawl teeth 55 and 56 out of contact with the ratchet wheels 31. The cam 50 will be rotated, by engagement of the extension 37 with the adjacent edge of the cam lug 66, about the pivot 62 until the notch 69, provided in the opposite edge of the cam lug 66, receives the lug 59 on the pawl 51 which will serve to lock the cam in the position shown in FIG. 6. At this time, the stop pawl 51 will be completely disengaged from the ratchet wheels 31. However, since the teeth of the feed pawl 32 were forced into engagement with the ratchet wheels 31 and the feed pawl picked up the load before the stop pawl 51 was disengaged from the ratchet wheel. the feed pawl will now -serve as a stop pawl to prevent reverse motion of the drum 16 until the yoke 27 is swung in the opposite direction. At this time, the yoke 27 will be in the stopped position shown in FIG. 6. Engagement of extension 37 with surface 61 is at its lower extremity.

Ifthe yoke 27 is now swung in a counterclockwise direction. as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 6, the reverse movement of the feed pawl 32 will eventually cause the extension 37 thereof to engage to earn lug 67, as shown in FIG. 6a, and swing the cam 50 counterclockwise about the pivot 62 thereby unlocking it and permitting the stop pawl 51 to again engage the ratchet wheels 31.

However, before this engagement, the ratchet wheels 31 will have reversed to the maximum extent of the two teeth. The feed pawl 32 cannot move away from the cam 50 holding the stop pawl 51 away from the ratchet wheels 31 without first releasing the cam andpermitting the pawl 51 to lock the ratchet wheels 31 again before the feed pawl is released from the ratchet wheels 31.

With the member or secondary cam of reversing cam 50 swung downwardly into inoperative position as indicated above, the maximum reversing action is accomplished and this has been specified as amounting to two teeth in each reversing movement of the yoke 27. However, it should be understood that this can be increased by variations in the cam and sprocket wheel relationship. To set the reversing cam for minimum reversing action, the member 70 should be swung upwardly into the cam notch to the upstanding position shown in FIGS. 7 and 7a.

With the member 70 set as indicated for minimum reversal, if the yoke 27 is swung to the right or clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 6, the cam 50 will function exactly as described with reference to FIG. 7. It will be noted that projecting member 70 is so located that it will not interfere with the pawl tooth extension 37 engaging the inclined stop surface 61 and eventually moving into contact with the edge of'the cam lug 66 as indicated in this FIG. Upon opposite or counterclockwise movement of the yoke 27, as viewed in FIG. 7a, the cam 50 will function the same as described with reference to FIG. 6a, except that the tooth extension 37 will eventually strike the edge 67a of member 70, rather than lug 67 and swing the cam 50 counterclockwise, thereby permitting the stop pawl 51 to again engage the ratchet wheels 31. However, before this engagement. the ratchet wheels 31 will have reversed to the mini mum extent of one tooth, determined by the setting of the member 70 in operative position.

My winch provides for simple positive and foolproof reversing action in conjunction with a double leverage construction. The double leverage results from the fact that the yoke 27 and the feed pawl 32 are pivoted at the pivots 26 which are located on a different spaced axis from the axis of the trunnions 17 on which the ratchet wheels 31 and drum 16 are mounted. The leverage of the pawl 32 acting against the ratchet wheels 31 and the leverage of the drum 16 against the cable 15 thereby multiply the mechanical advantage of the winch. The reversing mechanism is extremely simple comprising a spring-held single cam and one adjustable bias spring. This cam, by a simple arrangement, can be set for maximum or minimum reversal action. The cam is pivoted about an axis independent of the drum axis and is so disposed that it will not interfere with the normal oscillation of the lever for rotating the drum in a forward direction. The cam is positive in action, however, when the feed pawl is biased into position to operate the reversing mechanism. The cam is not subject to any of the load applied to the drum and, therefore, will not be distorted by such force. Distortion is further prevented by the provision of the positive steps between the lever yoke and the frame. The cam is free and positive in action with good mechanical advantage in applying the force of the feed pawl, which actuates it, to the stop pawl, and good mechanical advantage when the stop pawl and associated spring are aiding in moving the cam out of locking position and when the cam spring is holding the cam clear of the feed pawl during ,the forward movementaof the drum. The cam action is absolute and positive. It is impossible to lose the load unless the machine breaks or the operator intentionally releases the load by manually lifting the stop pawl from able drumhaving ratchet means associated therewith, a lever oscillatable to actuate said ratchet means torotate the drum, said ratchet means comprising a ratchet wheel fixed to the drum, afeed pawl carried by the lever, means for adjusting the feed pawl on the lever to an advancing position'where it engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel so thatoscillation of the lever will rotate the drum in a forward direction or to a reversing position where it is spaced from the ratchet teeth so that oscillation of the lever will not rotate the drum in a forward direction but will permit reversal thereof, a stop pawl engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheelto prevent reverse rotation of the drum as it is advanced in a forward direction, fixed cam meansadjacent the path of movement of the lever for engaging the feed pawl upon swinging of the lever in a forward directiononly when the feed pawl is set at reversing position to engagethe feed pawl with the ratchet teeth to cause it to function as a stop pawl for the reversing movement of the drum,

and a cam movably mounted adjacent theratchet control of the lever and positively engaged by the feed pawl upon moving of the lever in a reverse direction to thereby return it to its original position, said movable I cam having fixed cam portions spaced in the direction of swinging of said lever with which the feed pawl engages respectively in its forward and reverse movement, and a cam portion adjustably mounted on said movable cam intermediate said fixed cam portions for movement between an inoperative positionwhere it will not be engaged by said feed pawl and an operative position where it will be engaged by the feed pawl upon reverse movement of the lever. r a a 2. A winch of the type described comprising a frame, a drum rotatably mounted on the frame, a ratchet wheel fixed with the drum for rotation therewith, a lever pivoted to the frame, for oscillation, a feedpawl pivoted to. the lever for cooperating with the teeth of the ratchet wheel, means for adjusting the feed pawl on the lever about its pivot to an advancing position where it engages the ratchet teeth so that oscillation of the lever will rotate the drum in a forward direction or to a reversing position where it is spaced from the ratchet teeth so that oscillation of the lever will not rotate the drum in a forward direction but will permit reversal thereof, a stop pawl pivoted to the frame and normally engaging the ratchet, teeth to prevent reverse rotation of the drum ash is advanced in a forwarddire'ction, a cam edge on the frame adjacent the path of movement of the lever serving as a stop member which engages the lever to limit swinging in a forward advancing direction and engaged by thelced pawl upon oscillation of the lever only when the pawl is set at reversing position to' cause the feed pawl to engage the ratchet wheel and,

to functionas a stop pawl forthe reversingmovement, and a camrotatably mounted on the frame adjacentthe ratchet wheel and positively engaged by the feed, pawl 5 when it is set in reversing position upon said oscillation of the lever to positively engage the stop pawl to release it from the ratchet wheel to permit such reversing movement ofthe drum under control of the lever said feed pawl having a cam-engaging portion which upon I oscillation of the lever in one direction with the pawl in reversing-position firstengagesthe cam edge-and then engagesthe rotatable'cam and'swings it in one direction about its pivot into engagement with the stop: pawl for releasing it from theratchet and upon swinging of the lever in the opposite direction engages the rotatablecam and returns it toitsoriginal position, said rotatable cam having a pair of radially-extending angularly spaced fixed lugs, one of which is engaged by the feed pawl when it is set in reverse position upon oscillation of the lever in drum-advancing direction and the other of whichis engaged by the feed pawl upon oscil, lation of the lever in drum-reversing direction and an additional lug mounted on said rotatable cam intermediate said fixed lugs and selectively adjustable between an innerretracted position where it will not be engaged bysaid feed'pawl and a radially-extending operative position where it will be engaged by thefeed pawlupon reverse oscillation movement of the lever.

v 3. A winch according to claim 2 in whichresilient means is provided for maintaining the rotatable cam in its original positionand a locking lug carried by the stop pawl and adapted to be engaged by a locking notch in the edge of therotatable cam when the cam is moved into engagement with the stop pawl.

, 4. A winch according to claim 2 in which said adjust able lug comprises a lug member pivoted to the rotatable cam adjacent an edge extending between said fixed lugs, and a stop shoulderon said lug positioned to permit inwardswinging of said lug into an inoperative said lug to an operative position extending radially from said edge.

5; A winch according to elaim4 in which said adjust- I able lug is pivoted to thecam by a pivot structure ,in--..

eluding friction creating surfaces-tending to hold it in its selectively adjusted positions. 6. A winch according to claim 5 in which the adjustable lug includes a tongue pivoted to the cam for swing- I ingm'ovement, said tongue being connected to an outer portion which will engage said edge when swung inwardly into inoperative position and an inner shoulder,

on said flange which willengage said edge when swung outwardly into operative position.

7. A winch according to claim 2 including means for locking the rotatable camin the said position where it engages thestop pawl and releases it from the ratchet teeth, said meanseomprising interlocking portions on the said rotatable cam and the stop pawl, and means for releasing said interlocking portions, said last-named means comprising an extension on said feed pawl for engaging said cam upon swinging of the lever iniareverse direction to rotate said cam in the opposite direction to thereby permit the stop pawl toagain engage the ratchet teeth.

position at said edge but limiting outward swinging of, 

1. A winch of the type described comprising a rotatable drum having ratchet means associated therewith, a lever oscillatable to actuate said ratchet means to rotate the drum, said ratchet means comprising a ratchet wheel fixed to the drum, a feed pawl carried by the lever, means for adjusting the feed pawl on the lever to an advancing position where it engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel so that oscillation of the lever will rotate the drum in a forward direction or to a reversing position where it is spaced from the ratchet teeth so that oscillation of the lever will not rotate the drum in a forward direction but will permit reversal thereof, a stop pawl engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel to prevent reverse rotation of the drum as it is advanced in a forward direction, fixed cam means adjacent the path of movement of the lever for engaging the feed pawl upon swinging of the lever in a forward direction only when the feed pawl is set at reversing position to engage the feed pawl with the ratchet teeth to cause it to function as a stop pawl for the reversing movement of the drum, and a cam movably mounted adjacent the ratchet wheel and positively engaged by said feed pawl upon the camming thereof by said fixed cam upon further swinging of the lever in said forward direction to positively move the movable cam into engagement with the stop pawl to thereby release the stop pawl from the ratchet teeth to permit such reversing movement under control of the lever and positively engaged by the feed pawl upon moving of the lever in a reverse direction to thereby return it to its original position, said movable cam having fixed cam portions spaced in the direction of swinginG of said lever with which the feed pawl engages respectively in its forward and reverse movement, and a cam portion adjustably mounted on said movable cam intermediate said fixed cam portions for movement between an inoperative position where it will not be engaged by said feed pawl and an operative position where it will be engaged by the feed pawl upon reverse movement of the lever.
 2. A winch of the type described comprising a frame, a drum rotatably mounted on the frame, a ratchet wheel fixed with the drum for rotation therewith, a lever pivoted to the frame for oscillation, a feed pawl pivoted to the lever for cooperating with the teeth of the ratchet wheel, means for adjusting the feed pawl on the lever about its pivot to an advancing position where it engages the ratchet teeth so that oscillation of the lever will rotate the drum in a forward direction or to a reversing position where it is spaced from the ratchet teeth so that oscillation of the lever will not rotate the drum in a forward direction but will permit reversal thereof, a stop pawl pivoted to the frame and normally engaging the ratchet teeth to prevent reverse rotation of the drum as it is advanced in a forward direction, a cam edge on the frame adjacent the path of movement of the lever serving as a stop member which engages the lever to limit swinging in a forward advancing direction and engaged by the feed pawl upon oscillation of the lever only when the pawl is set at reversing position to cause the feed pawl to engage the ratchet wheel and to function as a stop pawl for the reversing movement, and a cam rotatably mounted on the frame adjacent the ratchet wheel and positively engaged by the feed pawl when it is set in reversing position upon said oscillation of the lever to positively engage the stop pawl to release it from the ratchet wheel to permit such reversing movement of the drum under control of the lever said feed pawl having a cam-engaging portion which upon oscillation of the lever in one direction with the pawl in reversing position first engages the cam edge and then engages the rotatable cam and swings it in one direction about its pivot into engagement with the stop pawl for releasing it from the ratchet and upon swinging of the lever in the opposite direction engages the rotatable cam and returns it to its original position, said rotatable cam having a pair of radially-extending angularly spaced fixed lugs, one of which is engaged by the feed pawl when it is set in reverse position upon oscillation of the lever in drum-advancing direction and the other of which is engaged by the feed pawl upon oscillation of the lever in drum-reversing direction and an additional lug mounted on said rotatable cam intermediate said fixed lugs and selectively adjustable between an inner retracted position where it will not be engaged by said feed pawl and a radially-extending operative position where it will be engaged by the feed pawl upon reverse oscillation movement of the lever.
 3. A winch according to claim 2 in which resilient means is provided for maintaining the rotatable cam in its original position and a locking lug carried by the stop pawl and adapted to be engaged by a locking notch in the edge of the rotatable cam when the cam is moved into engagement with the stop pawl.
 4. A winch according to claim 2 in which said adjustable lug comprises a lug member pivoted to the rotatable cam adjacent an edge extending between said fixed lugs, and a stop shoulder on said lug positioned to permit inward swinging of said lug into an inoperative position at said edge but limiting outward swinging of said lug to an operative position extending radially from said edge.
 5. A winch according to claim 4 in which said adjustable lug is pivoted to the cam by a pivot structure including friction creating surfaces tending to hold it in its selectively adjusted positions.
 6. A winch according to claim 5 in which the adjustable lug includes a tongue pivoted to the cam for swinging movement, said tongUe being connected to an outer lug portion which will extend beyond said cam edge when swung outwardly into its radially extending operative position, said lug portion having a lateral flange portion which will engage said edge when swung inwardly into inoperative position and an inner shoulder on said flange which will engage said edge when swung outwardly into operative position.
 7. A winch according to claim 2 including means for locking the rotatable cam in the said position where it engages the stop pawl and releases it from the ratchet teeth, said means comprising interlocking portions on the said rotatable cam and the stop pawl, and means for releasing said interlocking portions, said last-named means comprising an extension on said feed pawl for engaging said cam upon swinging of the lever in a reverse direction to rotate said cam in the opposite direction to thereby permit the stop pawl to again engage the ratchet teeth. 